Is Gilgit - Baltistan a Province of Pakistan?

No. It’s a disputed territory.

Historically, the Pakistani government resisted incorporating Gilgit-Baltistan into the country, primarily due to concerns about complicating the larger Kashmir dispute. The fear was that endorsing its absorption might open the door for India to legitimize its control over the area as well.

Over time, the region underwent various identity changes, transitioning from being termed the Northern Areas to the Northern Areas Council, Legal Framework Order, and eventually the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly. Despite efforts to grant a sense of autonomy and even shifting to the name 'Gilgit-Baltistan' under the administration of Prime Minister Gilani, the territory remained disputed.

While there were intentions expressed by Prime Minister Imran Khan's administration to grant provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan, this move didn't materialize. As a part of the original Jammu & Kashmir during the partition, the entire territory remains disputed. It has evolved from being a contested international border to a Line of Control – a military border not recognized in international law, demarcating the Indian and Pakistani administered regions of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009 marked a significant shift in the governance structure of the region. Passed by the Pakistani cabinet and endorsed by then-President Asif Ali Zardari, this order aimed to grant a degree of self-rule to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. It established key bodies like the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly and Gilgit-Baltistan Council, effectively elevating the region to a quasi-provincial status within Pakistan, albeit without formal constitutional integration.